    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [October 23, 2004]
    [Pages 2664-2665]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    October 23, 2004

        Good morning. In the 3 years since September the 11th attacks, our
    Government has acted decisively to protect the homeland.
        This week, I took another important step by signing the 2005
    Homeland Security Appropriations Act. This bill provides essential
    resources for Coast Guard patrols and port security, for the Federal Air
    Marshal program, and for technology that will defend aircraft against
    missiles. With this law, we are adding new resources to patrol our
    borders and to verify the identity of foreign visitors to America. The
    new law also includes vital money for first-responders and for better
    security of chemical facilities and nuclear plants and water treatment
    plants and bridges and subways and tunnels.
        All these measures show the unwavering commitment of our Government.
    And since 2001, we have tripled overall spending for homeland security.
    We are doing everything in our power to protect the American people.
    There is more to do, and we are moving forward.
        To protect America, our country needs the best possible
    intelligence. Chairman Tom Kean and other
    members of the 9/11 Commission made thoughtful and valuable
    recommendations on intelligence reform. My administration is already
    implementing the vast majority of those recommendations that can be
    enacted without a vote of Congress. We are expanding and strengthening
    the capabilities of the CIA. We are transforming the FBI into an agency
    whose primary focus is stopping terrorism. We have established the
    Terrorist Threat Integration Center so we can bring together all the
    available intelligence on terrorist threats in one place.
        But other changes require new laws. Congress needs to create the
    position of the National Intelligence Director, with strong authority
    over the personnel and budgets of our intelligence agencies. These and
    other reforms are necessary to make our intelligence community more
    effective and to stay ahead of the threats. My administration has sent
    proposed legislation to Capitol Hill, and we are working with Congress
    to pass a good bill. I urge Congress to act quickly, so I can sign these
    needed reforms into law.
        The surest way to defend our country is to stay on the offensive
    against terrorists. In an era of weapons of mass destruction, waiting
    for threats to arrive at our doorsteps is to invite disaster. Tyrants
    and terrorists will not give us polite notice before they attack our
    country. As long as I am the Commander in Chief, I will confront dangers
    abroad so we do not have to face them here at home.
        My opponent has a fundamental
    misunderstanding of the war on terror. Senator Kerry was recently asked
    how September the 11th had changed him. He replied,

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    quote, ``It didn't change me much at all,'' end quote. And his unchanged
    world view becomes obvious when he calls the war on terror primarily an
    intelligence and law enforcement operation. That is very dangerous
    thinking.
        We must fight the war on terror with every asset of our national
    power. We are waging a global campaign from the mountains of central
    Asia to the deserts of the Middle East and from the Horn of Africa to
    the Philippines. These efforts are paying off. Since September the 11th,
    2001, more than three-quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates
    have been killed, captured, or detained. The rest of them know we will
    hunt them down.
        America faces a grave threat, and our Government is doing everything
    in its power to confront and defeat that threat. We're making progress
    in protecting our homeland and progress against the terrorists who seek
    to harm our Nation. And by staying focused and determined, we will
    prevail.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:46 a.m. on October 22 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 23. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 22 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    remarks, the President referred to Thomas H. Kean, Chairman, National
    Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11
    Commission). The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.